Improvement in windmills



'NITED STATES PATENT EErc SAMUEL D. HOPKINS, OF TRUMANSBURG, YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN WlNDMlLLS.

Specication forming part of Letters PatentNo. 158,588, dated January 12, 1875; application filed November 14, 1874.

.the wind actin g upon vanes or sails, for operating a shaft to impart motion to the machine or machinery, whereby much expense and labor are dispensed with 5 and the object of the present invention is to so construct lsuch devices 4or-machines (commonly termed Windmills,

whereby they are rendered more simple am` reliable in operation.

This invention consists in the combination ot' a depending hanger, carrying a horizontally-revolving beam provided with a regulating-vane, and carrying the cranked axle and fan, and a Weighted rod connected with the regulating-vane, and having at its upper end a vane, whereby the regulating-vane on the horizontal beam is limited in its move ment, and always retained in position, so that the currents of air always act upon it for moving it and bringing the fan-wheel into proper position for receiving the currents of air.

Figure 1 represents a sideview of my inven. tion, and Fig. 2 a detached sctional view of the universal joint 5 and Fig'. 3, a similar view of the hanger.

The letters A'A represent two uprights, connected together by a cross-beam, B, at their upper ends, and to this cross-beam is attached a vertical bar or hanger, C, at the lower end of which is arranged a horizontal beam, D, both of said parts being confined and retained in their proper position by means of a bolt, E, passing through the beam D, hanger O, and cross-beam B, and secured in place by a nut, c, screwed onto the upper end of the same. The horizontal beam D is arranged loosely on the bolt E, and is provided with a packing-disk, c,which bears against asimilar packing on the end of the hanger, whereby the beam is retained in a true horizontal position when it is moved by the wind to properly present the fan-wheel. To the ends of the said beam are attached depending plates b,

in which is journalcd a shaft, F, carrying at one end a fan-wheel, G, consisting', in the presA ent instance, of radial arms c, having at their outer ends iiat rectangular pieces ot' Wood d, which receive the force of the currents of air, and revolve the shaft for imparting motion to the machine or machinery to be operated.

4The said beam is also provided with a` projecting bar, e, carrying a vane, H, pivoted between the arms ff of an arm, g, pivoted or journaled in the outer end of said bar c,

as shown, the object of said vane being to properly present the fan-wheel to the currents of air, as will be evident. To the said bar e is also pivoted a pendulum or rod, h, provided with. a Weight, lo, and connected with the vane H by a lateral rod projecting from the latter through an opening in the rod h, so as to permit the vane to turn. The upper end of the pendulum is provided with a iixed vane, I, to be acted upon by the wind, whereby the vane His regula-ted in its movements, and is always held in position with respect to the direct action ot' the currents of air, whereby the fan-wheel is also presented to receive the latter, and uniform movements of the operating-shaft secured.

By means of the regulator the vane H is lim ited in its lmovements-that is to say, the currents of air can act upon it to move it, in order to bring the fan-wheel in proper/position, but it cannot be moved out of the wind 5 or, in

other words, it is always retained in position while being acted upon by the wind, which may, in some cases., come in contrary directions, and tend to move the vane to bring its edge to the wind.

The shaft F is provided with a crank, t', to which is secured one end of a connecting-rod, l, the other end ot' said rod being connected with the shaft or wheel for operating the machine or machinery. The lower end of the connecting-rod l is provided with a conical head, m, which its a correspondingly-shaped seat in the end of a sleeve, a, the lower end of which is connected with the operating shaft or wheel, whereby a universal joint is secured, so that when the wind acts upon the fan-wheel in ditferent directions the said connecting-rod may turn to accom modate itself to thecircumstances.

By means of a windmill constructed in aceordance with my invention suoli class of devices are rendered much more simple and reliable than any heretofore constructed that I am aware of.

I do not claim, broadly, suspending a horizontal beam upon a vrtieal bolt, said beam carrying the shaft of thefan 5 but What I claim is- The combination, with a depending hanger, horizontal revolving beam D, and vane H, of

a weighted rod carrying at its upper end a vane, and connected with the Vane on the horizontal bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

SAMUEL D. HOPKINS. Witnesses:

G. W. HOPKINS, J. R. EMERY. 

